Vending machine with screw conveyor-type cellular magazine

ABSTRACT

A vending machine having dispensing modules provided with upper and lower shelves. Each upper shelf is encircled by the convolutions of a helical dispensing spindle. Items rest on both shelves intermediate the convolutions of the spindle, and, as the spindle revolves, items are discharged alternately from the ends of the upper and lower shelves with each 180* of rotation for the spindle. The spindle is connected with a drive unit through a drive rod which extends beneath the upper shelf and merges into the last convolution at the discharge end of the spindle. With slight modifications the dispensing module can be adapted to fit existing vending machines.

I United States Patent 11 m ni i [72] Inventor Stanley 0. Schlaf3,335,907 8/1967 Holstein 221/75 X Rte. 1 Box 233, Winfield, Mo. 633893,355,064 11/1967 Schlaf 221/75 X [2]] 800181 Primary Examiner-Samuel F.Coleman [22] Flled 1969 Attorney-Gravely Lieder & Woodruff Patented Aug.24, 1971 [54] VENDING MACHINE WITH SCREW CONVEYOR- l 4 TYPE CELLULARMAGAZINE ABS'lRAC'l: A vending machine having dispensing modules 18Claims, 11 Drawing Figs provided with upper and lower shelves. Eachupper shelf s enended by the convolutions of a helical dispensingspindle. [52] U.S.Cl 221/75, Items rest on both h l j t di t thecohvohniohs f 198/34 221/155 the spindle, and, as the spindle revolves,items are discharged [51] Int. Cl G07f 1l/00 alternately from the ends fthe upper and lower shelyes with Field of Search 221/75, each frotation'for the spindle The Spindle is connected 198/34 A with a driveunit through a drive rod which extends beneath the upper shelf andmerges into the last convolution at the References c'ted discharge endof the spindle. With slight modifications die UNITED STATES PATENTSdispensing module can be adapted to fit existing vending 2,918,19512/1959 Frerk 221/75 machines.

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INVENTOR STANLEY Q Sc HLAF AT TOR N EYS VENDING MACHINE WITH SCREWCONVEYOR-TYPE CELLULAR MAGAZINE I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates in general to vending machines, and more particularlyto vending machines in which items are dispensed by helical spindles.

I-Ieretofore helical dispensing spindles have been employed in vendingmachines to incrementally advance and individually dispense candy barsand other relatively firm items. Normally in such applications therotatable helix is mounted such that a portion of the helix projectsabove a shelf and the candy bars or other items rest on the shelfbetween the convolutions of the helical spindle. Accordingly, with eachfull revolution of the spindle a candy bar or other item is advancedbeyond the leading convolution and dispensed to the customer. Thehelical spindles, however, consume considerable space within themachine, making the vending machines quite large in comparison to theirstorage capabilities. Moreover, the spindles are driven from theirtrailing ends, and this causes them to axially compress such that thecandy bars on occasions become lodged between adjacent convolutions.

' One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide avending machine having a helical spindle which operates on a double rowof items and thereby makes efficient use of the space occupied by thespindle. Another object is to provide a vending machine which can beeasily loaded. An additional object is to provide a vending machine inwhich the spindle is not axially compressed as the items are advanced soas to prevent the items from becoming lodged between adjacentconvolutions. A further object is to provide a vending module which hasthe aforementioned advantages and can be installed on existing vendingmachines. Still another object is to provide a vending machine whichdispenses items on a firstin, first-out basis. These and other objectsand advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied in a vendingmachine having a helical spindle which advances and dispenses itemscarried in two rows between the convolutions of the spindle. Theinvention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form partof the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to likeparts wherever they occur:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a vending machine constructed inaccordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and showing oneof the dispensing modules and its drive unit in plan;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of one of the dispensing modules;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along lines 55 and 66,respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an end view, partially broken away, of one of the drive unitsforming part of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified dispensing module and its driveunit;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10l0 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of another modified dispensing module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings, 2 designates a vending machine having affront wall 4providedwith a transparent panel 6 through'which a plurality of dispensingmodules 8 can be observed. Internally the' vending machine 2 is providedwith an upstanding support panel 10 which faces the front wall 4 andcarries the dispensing modules 8. Each dispensing module 8 is operatedby a drive unit 12 (FIGS. 3,6 and 8) located on the opposite side of thesupport panel 10, and-each drive unit 12 in turn is activated by aseparate selector button 14 (FIG. 1) on the front door 4' after thecorrect amount of coin has been inserted into a coin slot 16 locatedadjacent to the buttons 14. The front wall .4 also has a dispensingchute 18 located beneath the modules 8.

Each drive unit 12 includes an electric motor 20 mounted on a gearcasing 22 and having its rotor shaft connected to a gear train withinthe casing 22. The gear train terminates at a drive shaft 24' (FIG. 6)journaled in an externally threaded sleeve 26 on the casing 22. Thesleeve 26 extends through the support panel 10, and beyond the panel 10a nut 28 is threaded over the sleeve 26 for securing the drive unit 12to the support panel 10. At its forward end the drive shaft 24 isprovided with a forwardly opening socket 30 having an offcenter portion32 which forms a stepped shoulder therein. The opposite end of the driveshaft 24 projects beyond the rear face of the gear casing 22 where it isprovided with a cam 34 (FIG. 8) having twin lobes spaced I80 apart. Thelobes of the cam 34 shift a spring-loaded follower 36 (FIG. 3) which ispivotally mounted on the casing 22 and operates a switching device 38(FIG. 3) located in the circuit to the motor-22.'The switching device 38is also actuated by a plunger 40 slidably mounted in a guide tube 42which projects through the support panel 10, the forward end, of theplunger 40 being exposed beyond the end of the tube 42. The circuit tothe motor 20 further includes one of the selector buttons 14, a vendrelay havingcredit contacts in series with the button 14, and carry overcontacts which are actually part of the switching device 38. When theselector button 14 associated with switching device 38 is depressed themotor 20 will be energized and will rotate the drive shaft 24 at agreatly reduced speed. One of the lobes on the cam 34 at the end of thedrive shaft 24 will lift the follower 36, and the follower 36 in turnwill close the carry over contacts on the switching device 38. When thisoccurs the credit contacts in the vend relay break. Upon the return ofthe follower 36 to its normal position at the end of the of rotation,the switching device 38 will break the circuit and stop the motor 20.When the button 14 is again depressed, the other lobe on the cam 34 willrepeat the sequence. If the plunger 40 is depressed, the drive motor 20will not operate. The foregoing circuitry and construction of the driveunit 12 are described more fully in US Pat. Nos. 3,294,281 and3,355,064.

Each dispensing module 8 includes a housing 50 having a backwall 52, alower wall or shelf 54 and a sidewall 56, all rigidly attached to oneanother at right angles (FIGS. 24). The opposite side of the housing 50is open, but the lower wall 54 is turned upwardly at that side in theformation of a side lip 60, which prevents objects from sliding off ofthe lower wall 54' and out of the open side. The backwall 52 is providedwith rearwardly turned flanges 62 along all of its margins. The upperflange 62 of the backwall 52 underlies a forwardly extending flange 63on the upper end of an apertured mounting plate 64 which is held againstthe support panel 10 by the nut 28 and a pair of self-tapping screws 65threaded into the panel 10 (FIGS. 3 and 6). The lower flange 62 on thebackwall 52, on the other hand, overlies another forwardly extendingflange 66 at the lower margin of the mounting plate 64.

. The backwall 52, and along with it the entire housing 50, areconnected with the mounting plate 64 by means of a U- shaped locking bar67 (FIG. 5) contained entirely within the recess formed in the backwall52 by the rearwardly turned flanges 62. The locking bar 67 includes apair of legs 68 which extend upwardly along those flanges 62 at the sideof the wall 52 and register at their upper ends with apertures 69 formedin the upper flange 63 on the mounting plate 64 when the flanges 62 abutagainst the forward face of the support panel 10. The locking bar 67 isbiased upwardly by a spring 70 extending between its bight portion andthe wall 52. Consequently, the ends of the legs 68 normally projectthrough the apertures 69 and secure the housing 50 to the mounting plate64.

The housing 50 contains an upper shelf 71 which extends longitudinallythrough it in upwardly spaced parallel relation to the lower wall 54.The shelf 71 is cantilevered from the backwall 52 by means of a mountingflange 72 (FIG. 6) formed integral with it and a reinforcing angle 73bolted to its upper face as well as to the forward face of the backwall52. At its forward margin the shelf 71 is cut away in the formation ofathumb slot 75 (FIG. 2) which provides access to an underlying releaserod 76 which in turn extends the length of the shelf 70 adjacent to oneof the flanges 74. The forward end of the rod 76 is journaled in a crossstrut 77 (FIG. 3) secured to the underside of the shelf 71 andimmediately forwardly of the cross strut 77 the rod 76 turns inwardlyand traverses the thumb slot 75. The rear end of the rod 76 passesthrough and is journaled in the mounting flange 72 of the shelf 71 aswell as in the backwall 52, and beyond the rear face of the backwall 52it turns downwardly and inwardly in the formation of an actuating arm 78(FIG. which at its lower end engages the bight portion of the U-shapedlocking bar 67. Thus, when the portion of the release rod 76 which ispresented across the thumb slot 75 is depressed, the rod 76 will rotateand its actuating arm 78 will swing downwardly toward the adjacent sideflange 62 on the backwall 52 and force the U-shaped locking bar 67downwardly also. This causes the legs 68 to withdraw from the apertures69 in the upper flange 63 of the mounting plate 64. With the upper endsof the legs 68 withdrawn from the apertures 69, the dispensing module 8may be pulled directly outwardly from the support panel 10.

The housing 50 further contains a helical dispensing spindle 79, theconvolutions of which pass in close proximity to the lower shelf or wall54 and encircle the upper shelf71. The end convolution at the dischargeend of the spindle 79, that is at the end opposite the backwall 52,merges into a radially extending segment 80 which in turn merges into anaxially extending drive rod 81 located beneath the upper shelf 71.Immediately to the rear of the radial segment 80, the drive rod 81 isjournaled in a sleeve bearing 82 set into a tab 83 which is attached tothe shelf 71 and projects downwardly from the forward margin thereof.The trailing end of the drive rod 81 is journaled in a sleeve bearing 74in the backwall 52, and beyond the bearing 84 the rod 81 is providedwith an enlarged drive head 85 (FIG. 6) which is sized for insertioninto the socket 30 on the drive shaft 24 of the drive unit 12. The drivehead 85 terminates at an axially extending tang 86 which extends intothe offcenter portion 32 of the socket 30 so as to prevent relativerotation between the drive rod 81 and drive shaft 24. Portions of boththe leading margins of the shelf 71 and the lower wall 54 are presentedat equal but opposite angles with respect to the plane of the backwall52, and that angle approximates the helix angle of the spindle 76. Inother words, a portion of the leading margin of the shelf 71 follows theangular path of the upper portions of the convolutions on the spindle76, whereas the leading margin of the lower wall 54 follows the angularpath of the lower portions of the convolutions.

Finally, the module 8 is provided with a soldout mechanism 87 fordepressing the plunger 40 which actuates the switching device 38 whenthe module 8 is devoid of vendable items. The soldout mechanism 87includes a flat sensing arm 88 which extends longitudinally along theupper surface of the shelf7l all the way to its forward edge. At itsrear end the sensing arm 88 is fitted with a bifurcated bracket89 (FIGS.2 and 6), the furcations of which project through slots 90 formed'in thevcrti cal flange of the reinforcing angle 73 as well as in the backwall52. The lower margins of the slots 90 are located slightly above theupper surface on the horizontal flange of the reinforcing angle 72 sothat bracket 89 is actually pivoted on the reinforcing angle 72. One ofthe furcations is connected with a spring 91 (FIG. 5) which biases itdownwardly and the forward end of the sensing arm 88 upwardly. The otherfurcation turns upwardly at its rear end in the formation of a pressurefinger 92 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which bears against a transfer link 93 pivotedabout a pin 94 set into the upper rearwardly turned flange 62 on thebackwall 52. At its free end the transfer link 93 is provided with adownwardly extending tab 95, the rearwardly presented face of whichbears against the circular end face of the plunger 40 in the tube 42.When the sensing arm 88 is unrestrained, the force exerted by the spring91 on the furcation of the bracket 89 is sufflcient to lift or pivot theforward end of the sensing arm 88 off of the upper surface of the shelf71. When the sensing arm 88 is raised, the pressure finger 92 forces thetransfer link 93 away from the backwall 52, causing its tab to hold theplunger 40 inwardly. The plunger 40, as previously noted, sets theswitching device 38 so that the motor 20 will not operate.

OPERATION To load the vending machine 2, each module is grasped with thefingers of one hand extending across the bottom of the lower wall 54adjacent to the angled forward margin thereof and the thumb of that samehand in the thumb slot 75'against the portion of the release rod 76which projects across that slot 75. When that portion of the release rod76 is depressed, the actuating arm 78 at the opposite end of the rod 76forces the U-shaped locking bar 67 downwardly against the bias of thespring 70, causing the upper ends of the legs 68 to withdraw from theapertures 69 in the upper flange 63 of the mounting plate 64. This freesthe entire module 8 so that it can be drawn directly outwardly from thesupport panel 10. As the module 8 is pulled away from the support panel10, the upper and lower rearwardly extending flanges 62 on the backwall52 slide across the forwardly extending flanges 63 and 66, respectively,on the mounting plate 64, while the drive head 85 on the spindle 79withdraws from the socket 30 in the drive shaft 24. Once free of themounting plate 64, the module 8 may be removed to a suitable supportingsurface, whereupon candy bars or other similarly shaped items 96 areinserted between the convolutions of the spindle 79, both on the uppershelf 71 and on the lower shelf 54. In the case of the former, the items96 may be either dropped downwardly between the convolutions of thespindle 79 or passed laterally across the upper shelf 71 between them,whereas in the case of the latter the items 96 must be passed laterallyinto the open side of the housing 50 and across the lower shelf 54between the convolutions. A single item 96 on the forward end of theupper shelf 71 is enough to maintain the sensing arm 88 against theshelf 71, and consequently, the plunger 40 remains extended and does notbreak the circuit to the motor 20. Each dispensing module 8 should beloaded with like items 96 and when it is completely loaded, the module 8is returned to the support panel 10, care being exercised to effectalignment of the drive head 85 with the socket 30 and the tang 86 withthe offcenter portion 31 formed in the socket 30. The tang 86 will be inproper alignment when the radial segment of the spindle 79 projectsupwardly, or in other words, is in the 12 o'clock position. With theportion of the actuating rod traversing the thumb slot 75 depressed, theupper and lower flanges 62 on the backwall 52 are passed between theforwardly extending flanges 62 and 66 on the mounting plate 66 until theretracted ends of the legs 68 on the locking bar 67 register with theapertures 69 in the upper flange 63. At that time the release rod 76 isreleased and the legs 68 project into the apertures 69, securing themodule 8 to the panel 10.

In operation the-consumer inserts the proper amount of coin in t l ccoinslot 16 and then presses the selector button 14 corresponding to thedispensing module 8 which stores the particular item 96 he is interestedin purchasing. That selector button 14 will close a circuit to the motor20 in the drive unit 12 associated with that dispensing module 8. Onceactuated the motor 20 will continue to revolve, turning the drive shaft24 at the end of the gear train in the gear casing 22. One of the lobeson the cam 34 at the end of the drive shaft 24 will lift thespring-loaded follower 36 upwardly and then allow its spring to returnit to its normal position as the drive shaft 24 approaches 180 ofrotation. When the drive shaft reaches 180 of rotation, the follower 36will actuate the switching device 38 causing it to interrupt the circuitto the motor 20, and the motor 20 will of course cease to turn.

Meanwhile, the drive spindle 79 will have rotated through- 1 80 since itis connected directly to the drive shaft 24 through the drive rod 81,and the final half of the leading convolution, that is the 180 ofconvolution trailing the radial segment 80, will drive the end item 96across the angled leading margin on either the shelf 54 or 71 and out ofthe open front end of the dispensing module 8. The item 96 will falldownwardly into the dispensing chute 18 where it can be retrieved by thecustomer. The remaining items 96 in the dispensing module 8 aredispensed in a similar manner with the items 96 being dispensedalternately from the upper shelf 71 and the lower shelf 54.

The sidewall 56 is presented such that the items 96 on the upper shelf71 through frictional engagement with the spindle 79 are forced againstit. Accordingly, the wall 56 prevents the items 96 from shiftinglaterally as the spindle 76 revolves and thereby keeps the items 96 onthe upper shelf 71 in engagement with the convolutions of the spindle79. The side lip 60 serves the same purpose for items 96 on the lowershelf 54. Since the spindle 79 incrementally advances all the items 96on the shelves 54 and 71 in unison with each rotation of the drive shaft24, no rearranging of the items 96 is necessary when loading a partiallydispensed module 8 to effect further dispensing on a first-in, first-outbasis. On the contrary, when loading a partially dispensed spindle 79,the new items 96 are merely inserted into the spaces between theconvolutions at the rear of the module 8, and those newly inserted items96 will be dispensed only after the items 96 remaining in the module 8at the time of the subsequent loading have been dispensed. Inasmuch asthe convoluted portion of the dispensing spindle 79 is driven from itsleading or discharge end through the drive rod 81, the leadingconvolution will always be presented in the same predetermined spacingand angle with respect to the ends of the shelves 54 and 71 andaccordingly will not be affected by compressive or torsional forces onthe convoluted portion. Moreover, the spindle 79 will tend to pull theitems 96 along the shelves 54 and 71 and this eliminates the possibilityof the spindle compressing and causing the items 88 to lodge betweenadjacent convolutions as is true ofdispcnsing spindles driven from theopposite end.

After the final item passes across the leading margin of the upper wall71, the spring 91 will raise the sensing arm 88 and cause the pressurefinger 92 to move the transfer link 93 rearwardly. The link 93, in turn,acting through its tab 95, will depress the plunger 40 within the tube42 and thereby set the switching device 38 so the select circuit isbroken at the switching device 38 and the customers credit may be usedfor operating another module 8 through a different selector button 14.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, it is possibleto provide a modified dispensing module 100 for converting existingspindle-type vending machines 102 from the convoluted spindle deliveryof bagged items to the delivery of candy bars and similar elongateditems 96 which are relatively firm. Those existing machines 102 aresimilar to the machines disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,355,064 and like themachine 2, each includes a support panel 104 and drive units 106 on thesupport panel 104. Each drive unit 106 has a threaded sleeve 108 whichprojects throughthe panel 104, beyond which it is fitted with a nut 110which threads toward thefront face of the panel 104 and secures thedrive unit 106 to it. A plunger 112 also projects through the panel 104and operates a switching device in the drive unit 106. The threadedsleeve 108 of each drive unit 106 has a drive shaft 114 journaled in it,and thedrive shaft 114 is provided with a socket 116 which has anoffcenter end portion 118. The socket 116 normally receives the drivehead of a forwardly projecting spindle adapted to carry bags havingapertured tabs. Like the drive shaft 24, the drive shaft 114 has a camwhich operates the switching device through a follower. The cam,however, has only one lobe, and therefore the drive shaft 114 rotatesthrough a full revolution before stopping.

The dispensing module is very similar to the module 8 and includes ahousing 120 having a lower wall or shelf 122 and a rear wall 124provided with rearwardly projecting flanges 126. The housing 120contains an upper shelf 128 and a helical dispensing spindle 130, theconvoluted portion of which encircles the upper shelf 128 and passes inclose proximity to the lower shelf 122. The dispensing spindle 130 alsoincludes a drive rod 132 fitted with a hub 134 which is journaled in thebackwall 124. The hub 134 projects into the recess formed by the flanges126, where it integrally merges into a spur gear 136 which meshes with apinion gear 138 on a drive head 144 which projects into the socket 116in the drive shaft 114. The drive head 144 terminates at a tang 146which fits into the offcenter portion-118 of the socket 116. The piniongear 138 has half the number of teeth as the spur gear 136 andconsequently the latter makes half as many revolutions as the former.The recess formed in the rear wall 124 by its rearwardly turned flanges126 contains a locking bar 148 which is shifted by a release arm 149extending along the underside of the upper shelf 128.

The dispensing module 100 is further provided with a soldout mechanism150 for depressing the plunger 112 and that soldout mechanism 150 issimilar to the soldout mechanism 87 on the dispensing module 8.

In order to connect the dispensing module 100 to the existing vendingmachine 102 the nut 110 is removed. from the threaded sleeve 108 and anapertured adapter plate 151 similar to the mounting plate 68 is fittedover the outwardly projecting portions of both the sleeve 108 and theplunger tube 112. Thereupon the nut 110 is again threaded over thesleeve 108 and against the forward surface of the plate 150, andself-tapping screws 152 are passed through it and into the panel 104,thereby firmly securing both the plate 150 and the drive unit 106 to thesupport panel 104. The plate 150 along its top edge is turned forwardlyin the formation of an upper flange 153 having apertures which alignwith the legs on the locking bar 148. Along its lower margin the plate150 is provided with another flange 154 which abuts the bottomrearwardly turned flange 126 and thereby supports the backwall 124. Thedispensing module 100 is connected with the plate 150 through itslocking bar 148 in the same manner that the module 8 is connected to themounting plate 64 through the locking bar 67.

The existing vending machine 102 equipped with the modified dispensingmodule 100 is loaded with items 88 and operates in the same manner asthe vending machine 2. By reason of the meshing gears 136 and 138 thefull revolution of the drive shaft 114 on the drive unit 106 during eachdispensing cycle is translated into one-half revolution of thedispensing spindle 130. Thus, the dispensing module 100 also dispensesthe items 88 individually and alternately from the upper and lowershelves 122 and 128.

Turning now to FIG. 11, it is possible to provide a dispensing modulewhich is very similar to the modules 8 and 100, only it has a soldoutmechanism 162 which senses the absence of items 96 in the lower rowinstead of the upper row. More specifically, the module 160 includes ahousing 163 having a lower wall 164, a backwall 166, and an upper shelf168 cantilevered from the backwall 166 and having a pair of side flanges170. Below the lower ends of the flanges 170 a tube 172 forming part ofa drive unit 174 projects through the backwall 166, and that tube 172contains a plunger 176 which operates a switching device in the driveunit 174. The housing 163 also contains a helical dispensing spindle 178which is similar to the spindle 79 and is rotated by the drive unit 174.

The soldout mechanism 162 includes a pin 178 which extends between theside flanges 170 and carries a sensing arm 182 which extends forwardlybeneath the upper shelf 168 within the convolutions of the dispensingspindle 178. At its rear end, that is at the pin 180, the sensing arm182 is provided with a pressure finger 184 which at its lower end alignswith the end of the plunger 176 located in the tube 172. When thesensing arm 182 is raised, as would be the case if items 96 were on thelower wall 166, the pressure finger 184 remains away from the plunger176. However, when the last item 96 is driven off of the lower wall 164by the spindle 178, the sensing arm 182 will fall downwardly and swingthe lower end of the pressure finger 184 against the plunger 176,forcing it into the tube 172. This, of course, sets the switching devicewithin the drive unit 174 such that the unit 174 will no longer drivethe spindle 178 and the customers coin will be applied as a credit tosome other dispensing module 160.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosurewhich do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A vending machine comprising a support member; a connecting elementprojecting outwardly from the support member; item supporting meansincluding a rear wall, a first shelf projecting outwardly from the rearwall for supporting a row of items, and a second shelf also projectingoutwardly from the rear wall beneath the first shelf for supportinganother row of items; a shiftable locking member carried by the rearwall, the locking member being shiftable from a position wherein it willengage the connecting element and secure the rear wall to the supportmember to another position wherein it will be disengaged from theconnecting element and will allow the rear wall to be detached andwithdrawn from the support member; a helical spindle includingconvolutions which encircle the first shelf and pass adjacent to thesecond shelf; drive means mounted behind the rear wall; and a drive rodextending through the rear wall for connecting the convolutions to thedrive means, the drive rod being connected with the drive means beyondthe rear wall when the locking means is engaged with the connectingelement and being disconnected from the drive means when the rear wallis *etach ed from the support member, the items in each row of itemsbeing positioned on the shelves and between the convolutions of thespindle so that as the spindle rotates the items will be dispensed.

2. A vending machine according to claim 1, and further characterized byrelease means for shifting the locking member and operable from thedispensing end ofthe item supporting means.

3. A vending machine according to claim 2, wherein one of the shelves atits dispensing end is provided with a thumb slot, and wherein a releaserod is journaled adjacent to and extends along that shelf, the rodextending across the thumb slot at its one end and shifting the lockingmember at its opposite end, whereby the locking member is operable fromthe dispensing end of the shelves.

4. A vending mechanism comprising upper and lower shelves mounted infixed and determined relation with respect to each other for supportinga plurality of items arranged in rows thereon, each shelf having adischarge end across which the items leave the shelf, and a helicalspindle having convolutions which encircle the upper shelf and extendtoward the lower shelf, the convolutions passing between and separatingitems on each shelf so that as the spindle rotates the items will beadvanced along the shelves toward the discharge ends thereof and willeventually leave the shelves at the discharge ends, the spindle furtherincluding a drive rod which extends along the upper shelf and connectswith the convolution located closest to the discharge ends of theshelves but is detached from the remaining convolutions whereby theconvolutions will rotate with the drive rod.

5. A vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the drive rod nearits connection to the endmost convolution is journaled in the uppershelf.

6. A vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the drive rod extendsalong the underside of the upper shelf.

7. A vending machine according to claim 5, and further characterized byguide means along at least one side of each shelf to prevent theconvolutions from pushing the items laterally off of the shelf as thespindle revolves.

8. A vending machine according to claim 7, and further characterized bya rear member to which the upper and lower shelves are attached at theirends located remote from their discharge ends, the shelves beingsupported by and projecting outwardly from the rear member.

9. A vending machine according to claim 8, wherein the drive rod extendsthrough the rear member and is journaled in the upper shelf remote fromthe rear member.

10. A vending machine according to claim 9, and further characterized bya support member to which the rear member is affixed, whereby the rearmember is supported by the support member, and drive means mounted onthe support member and engaged with the drive rod for rotating thespindle.

11. A vending machine according to claim 10, wherein the drive meansincludes a drive shaft provided with a socket and the drive rod isconnectable with the drive shaft through a drive head which fitsnonrotatively into the socket.

12. A vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the drive rod isconnected to the drive head through meshing gears of predeterminedratio.

13. A vending machine according to claim 10, and further characterizedby sensing means for sensing the presence of items on at least one ofthe shelves, the sensing means being connected with the drive means forpreventing the drive means from being energized in the absence of itemson the shelf over which the sensing means maintains surveillance.

14. A vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the sensing meansincludes a sensing arm extending along the upper surface of the uppershelf within the convolutions of the spindle, the sensing arm beingspring biased upwardly but being normally held against the upper surfaceof the shelf by items on the upper shelf.

15. A vending machine according to claim 13, wherein the sensing meansincludes a sensing arm extending above the lower shelf within theconvolutions of the dispensing spindle, and wherein the sensing arm isnormally maintained in a raised position by items on the lower shelf.

16. A vending machine according to claim 10, wherein the rear member isdetachable from the support member; and wherein the drive rod isdisengaged from the drive means when the rear member is detached fromthe support member.

17. A vending mechanism comprising upper and lower shelves forsupporting a plurality ol items arranged in rows thereon, means mountingthe shelves in fixed and determined relation relative to each other,dispensing spindle means having a series of convolutions which passbetween and separate the items on both the upper and lower shelves, theupper shelf being disposed within and completely encircled by theconvolutions and the lower shelf being substantially located below andoutside of the convolutions, the lower shelf further being accessiblefrom at least one of its sides so that the items may be insertedlaterally onto it to supported positions between the convolutions of thespindle, both shelves having discharge ends located at one end of theconvoluted portion of the spindle so that the items can pass along theshelves and be discharged from the ends thereof, and means for rotatingthe spindle in the direction which causes the items to be advancedtoward the discharge ends of the shelves, whereby the items will leavethe discharge ends of the upper and lower shelves al- I ternately as thespindle rotates.

18. A vending mechanism according to claim l7, wherein

1. A vending machine comprising a support member; a connecting elementprojecting outwardly from the support member; item supporting meansincluding a rear wall, a first shelf projecting outwardly from the rearwall for supporting a row of items, and a second shelf also projectingoutwardly from the rear wall beneath the first shelf for supportinganother row of items; a shiftable locking member carried by the rearwall, the locking meMber being shiftable from a position wherein it willengage the connecting element and secure the rear wall to the supportmember to another position wherein it will be disengaged from theconnecting element and will allow the rear wall to be detached andwithdrawn from the support member; a helical spindle includingconvolutions which encircle the first shelf and pass adjacent to thesecond shelf; drive means mounted behind the rear wall; and a drive rodextending through the rear wall for connecting the convolutions to thedrive means, the drive rod being connected with the drive means beyondthe rear wall when the locking means is engaged with the connectingelement and being disconnected from the drive means when the rear wallis detached from the support member, the items in each row of itemsbeing positioned on the shelves and between the convolutions of thespindle so that as the spindle rotates the items will be dispensed.
 2. Avending machine according to claim 1, and further characterized byrelease means for shifting the locking member and operable from thedispensing end of the item supporting means.
 3. A vending machineaccording to claim 2, wherein one of the shelves at its dispensing endis provided with a thumb slot, and wherein a release rod is journaledadjacent to and extends along that shelf, the rod extending across thethumb slot at its one end and shifting the locking member at itsopposite end, whereby the locking member is operable from the dispensingend of the shelves.
 4. A vending mechanism comprising upper and lowershelves mounted in fixed and determined relation with respect to eachother for supporting a plurality of items arranged in rows thereon, eachshelf having a discharge end across which the items leave the shelf, anda helical spindle having convolutions which encircle the upper shelf andextend toward the lower shelf, the convolutions passing between andseparating items on each shelf so that as the spindle rotates the itemswill be advanced along the shelves toward the discharge ends thereof andwill eventually leave the shelves at the discharge ends, the spindlefurther including a drive rod which extends along the upper shelf andconnects with the convolution located closest to the discharge ends ofthe shelves but is detached from the remaining convolutions whereby theconvolutions will rotate with the drive rod.
 5. A vending machineaccording to claim 4, wherein the drive rod near its connection to theendmost convolution is journaled in the upper shelf.
 6. A vendingmachine according to claim 5, wherein the drive rod extends along theunderside of the upper shelf.
 7. A vending machine according to claim 5,and further characterized by guide means along at least one side of eachshelf to prevent the convolutions from pushing the items laterally offof the shelf as the spindle revolves.
 8. A vending machine according toclaim 7, and further characterized by a rear member to which the upperand lower shelves are attached at their ends located remote from theirdischarge ends, the shelves being supported by and projecting outwardlyfrom the rear member.
 9. A vending machine according to claim 8, whereinthe drive rod extends through the rear member and is journaled in theupper shelf remote from the rear member.
 10. A vending machine accordingto claim 9, and further characterized by a support member to which therear member is affixed, whereby the rear member is supported by thesupport member, and drive means mounted on the support member andengaged with the drive rod for rotating the spindle.
 11. A vendingmachine according to claim 10, wherein the drive means includes a driveshaft provided with a socket and the drive rod is connectable with thedrive shaft through a drive head which fits nonrotatively into thesocket.
 12. A vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the driverod is connected to the drive head through meshing gears ofpredetermined ratio.
 13. A vending machine accOrding to claim 10, andfurther characterized by sensing means for sensing the presence of itemson at least one of the shelves, the sensing means being connected withthe drive means for preventing the drive means from being energized inthe absence of items on the shelf over which the sensing means maintainssurveillance.
 14. A vending machine according to claim 13, wherein thesensing means includes a sensing arm extending along the upper surfaceof the upper shelf within the convolutions of the spindle, the sensingarm being spring biased upwardly but being normally held against theupper surface of the shelf by items on the upper shelf.
 15. A vendingmachine according to claim 13, wherein the sensing means includes asensing arm extending above the lower shelf within the convolutions ofthe dispensing spindle, and wherein the sensing arm is normallymaintained in a raised position by items on the lower shelf.
 16. Avending machine according to claim 10, wherein the rear member isdetachable from the support member; and wherein the drive rod isdisengaged from the drive means when the rear member is detached fromthe support member.
 17. A vending mechanism comprising upper and lowershelves for supporting a plurality of items arranged in rows thereon,means mounting the shelves in fixed and determined relation relative toeach other, dispensing spindle means having a series of convolutionswhich pass between and separate the items on both the upper and lowershelves, the upper shelf being disposed within and completely encircledby the convolutions and the lower shelf being substantially locatedbelow and outside of the convolutions, the lower shelf further beingaccessible from at least one of its sides so that the items may beinserted laterally onto it to supported positions between theconvolutions of the spindle, both shelves having discharge ends locatedat one end of the convoluted portion of the spindle so that the itemscan pass along the shelves and be discharged from the ends thereof, andmeans for rotating the spindle in the direction which causes the itemsto be advanced toward the discharge ends of the shelves, whereby theitems will leave the discharge ends of the upper and lower shelvesalternately as the spindle rotates.
 18. A vending mechanism according toclaim 17, wherein the lower shelf is wider than the upper shelf, and hasa lip extending along one of its sides.